Jessica Mullen wrote: “I saw your beautiful photos from the tea party and I have a quick question. I was wondering how you made the tea bags for the make your own tea take home favors. I would love to do this for a baby shower I am throwing in 2 weeks. Any other ideas to make a baby shower more special using the tea theme? I love your ideas!!”

Thanks, Jessica! Here’s how to make handsewn fabric teabags for loose tea. Heather came up with this idea for our Upper Crust Social Club Ladies’ Late-Night Tea Party and I liked it so much that I made a gold variation for my mom as a gift. So we’ve provided two free templates below, or you can easily make your own custom labels.

You’re welcome to use these instructions and templates for free for your own personal use. Anyone using the template simply post a comment below or email me to track its usage.

Supplies for handsewn fabric teabags:

• Heather’s free teabag template and matching tea tents for display (PDFs – ready to print as is) or Kathy’s free teabag template (Adobe Illustrator format, just download a trial version of Illustrator and change the names to customize) …or, create your own tags using Adobe Illustrator or Microsoft PowerPoint
• Sheer fabric (we used remnants from my living room curtains that I made years ago that had a nubby texture)
• White thread (or gold thread)
• Thick black craft thread (or gold thread)
• Pins (optional)
• White Elmer’s glue
• Thick white paper
• Hand sewing needle
• Sewing machine (unless you want to sew the whole thing by hand)
• Rotary fabric rotary cutter, clear fabric ruler and self-healing mat (you can substitute good scissors but these tools are invaluable for ensuring straight cuts time after time)

Supplies for packaging:

• White paper bags
• Clear plastic food bags
• Pretty stickers OR 8 1/2″ x 11″ sheets of sticker paper from an office supply store to make your own custom stickers on the computer like we did

First, cut your sheer fabric into 3″ x 2.5″ rectangles using your rotary fabric rotary cutter, clear fabric ruler and self-healing mat. Pin the rectangles together in pairs.

Machine sew around three sides of the teabag using white thread, leaving about 1/4 inch on the sides. I love the raw edges of the teabag, so embrace any fraying.

Thread your handsewing needle with thick, black thread, or use colored embroidery floss. Weave your needle in and out of the front side of the teabag and then around the back side of the teabag, leaving long extra thread pieces on both front and back. Be sure to avoid sewing the top shut. No need to tie any knots on this step.

Print and cut out your tea labels using one of the two free templates provided, or making your own in Adobe Illustrator or PowerPoint. Fold them in half and place a dot of Elmer’s glue on one end …a little goes a long way. Place the teabag string ends on the glue and close to seal.

Create a “loose tea bar” using clear cups and other assorted small bowls. Fill your teabag with loose teas (my favorites including Blood Orange Tea are from Adagio Teas …check them out. You can get free shipping with a $50 purchase).

For packaging

Buy clear food bags from uline.com. Seal using pretty stickers, or make your own custom stickers like we did by buying 8 1/2″ x 11″ white printer sticker sheets from an office supply store and creating your own label in Adobe Illustrator or Powerpoint.

Provide white bags and Chinese take-out boxes for people to carry their goodies home. Relax and unwind!

COPYRIGHT NOTE: You’re more than welcome to use this project and pattern for your own personal use. Please post a comment below or email me if you use this project so I can smile when I see that it’s being used. Craft and pass it on!

Comments (16)  | Permalink  | By Kathy on 3/7/2009  |